Hand operated pike



Filed June 24, 1960 INVENTOR. ROLAND W. PRATHER ATTORNEYS 3,050,095 HAND OPERATED PIKE Roland W. Prather, Rte. 2, Box 161, Woodburn, Oreg- Filed June 24, 1960, Ser. No. 38,514 1 Claim. (Cl. 144-193) This invention relates to a bar or pike for the removal of tree stumps, hereinafter referred to as a stumping bar, and has as its primary object the provision of an improved stumping bar which may be easily and efliciently operated by a single individual.

As conductive to clearer understanding of this invention it may be here pointed out that a stumping bar at the present time generally requires the use of two operators, one who holds the bar at the proper angle and the other who drives it under the stump by hammering on the upper end with the sledge or the like. There are inherent dangers involved in the use of such a bar as, for example, the possibility of bone breakage due to the hammer sliding off the end of the bar or missing it completely. Additionally, after the bar has been driven into the stump a wrench must generally be applied to twist the bar free for removal. Then the bar must be pulled out by the two operators, this being a difficult operation. A primary object of this invention is the provision of a unitary stumping bar structure which may be handled by one individual, the bar comprising a shaft having incorporated therewith a heavy sliding hammer member having two oppositely disposed handles so that a single individual can both guide the bar and hammer the same.

An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of means for holding the sliding hammer against movement when not in use, to avoid the possibility of damage to surrounding objects and equipment during transportation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such securing means which may be readily released and rendered inoperative while the bar is in use.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a stumping bar constructed in accordance with the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the parts in a different position of adjustment.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawing in detail, the stumping bar comprises a conventional tear drop shaped point secured to an elongated shaft 11 preferably of hexagonal shape as illustrated. At the upper extremity of the shaft 11 there is welded or otherwise a collar 12 with a machined surface on its lower side. At an intermediate point of the shaft is a second confronting collar 13, having a machined upper surface and serving as a lower stop for a relatively heavy sliding hammer member 14, the latter 'being preferably cylindrical in shape and of sufiicient weight to give a desired impact to the point 10 when driving the same into a stump. The hammer 14 is provided with oppositely extending handles 15, which atent may be grasped either with both hands of the user, or individually when the other hand is used to guide the bar 11.

Due to the hexagonal shape of the bar 11 which extends through a bore 14a of corresponding shape, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, removal of the bar may be ef fected by merely twisting the handles 15 to dislodge the point 10.

In the normal use and operation of the device the hammer member 14 is slid upwardly and downwardly along the bar by means of the handles 15 and, upon striking the lower collar 13 its impact is transmitted to the point 10 which is suitably lodged in the stump in a conventional manner.

When the device is being transported it is desirable that the hammer 14 be held against sliding movement. This is effected by a locking pin assembly generally indicated at 16. The assembly comprises a locking pin 17 which carries on its outer end a knurled knob 18, and which is adapted to be spring biased by means of a spring 20 into a suitable opening or detent 19 adjacent the upper end of shaft 11. The spring 20 engages a collar 21 on pin 17 and normally biases the end of the pin into the opening or detent 19. The spring assembly is adapted to be p0sitioned in a suitable bore 22 in hammer 14, and secured in position by means of a lock nut 23, the latter including a threaded extremity 23a which seats in a suitable threaded opening 23b in the outer wall of hammer 14. The outer face of nut 23 carries an elongated slot or recess 24 which is adapted to be engaged by an elongated lug or protuberance on the underside of knurled head 18. When the lug is seated in the recess 24 the pin 17 is enabled to engage in the detent 19 for the purpose of holding hammer 14 against reciprocatory movement. When it is desired to use the hammer, however, and hold the pin 17 out of engagement with detent 19, the knurled operating handle 18 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the lug 25 extends transversely to the groove or channel 24, so that the end of pin 19 is held out of engagement with its associated detent and the hammer 14 may slide freely on the bar 11.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved stumping bar which effects a material saving in time and labor and which is particularly effective for drilling a bore or hole in a stump when it is desired to place a charge therein. It will also be seen that there is herein provided a stumping bar which is particularly useful to loggers, farmers, construction workers, or anyone faced with the necessary of removing a stump or other obstacle in which it is desired to bore a charge receiving hole.

It will also be seen that there is herein provided a device which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodient hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

'In a stumping bar, in combination, an elongated bar, a tear-drop shaped point on one end of said bar, a collar fixed to the other end of said bar, a second collar fixed to an intermediate point of said bar, a hammer mounted for reciprocatory movement on said bar between said collars, and oppositely disposed handle members on said hammer, said elongated bar having a detent therein between said collars, a spring biased pin extending through 3 4 said hammer engageable with said detent for holding said 814,020 Clifford Mar. 6, 1906 hammer against reciproca'tory movement, and means for 875,940 Mason Jan. 7, 1903 retaining said pin out of engagement with said detent. 1,205,307 Woods Nov. 21, 1916 1,863,801 Lorber Jan. 21, 1932 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 2,3 9 8123 1 Km p 9, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,839 Rice July 27 1954 776,191 Lynch Nov. 29, 1904 

